‘Boston’ Rob Mariano Reveals the “Survivor 50” Twist He Would Have Left ‘on the Cutting Room Floor’ (Exclusive)

‘Boston’ Rob Mariano Reveals the “Survivor 50” Twist He Would Have Left ‘on the Cutting Room Floor’ (Exclusive)


“Boston” Rob Mariano is not going to be on the hunt for a Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol anytime quickly.

Currently, Survivoris airing its landmark fiftieth season, with the finale premiering on May 20. The season — which follows 24 returning gamers competing for a $2 million prize — has featured a lot of superstar cameos, from nation singer Zac Brown placing on a reward problem to Jimmy Fallon introducing his personal twist.

However, not everybody has been a fan of the new benefits. Mariano — who competed on seasons 4, 8, 20, 22 and 40 of the long-running CBS present — solely sat down with PEOPLE at a trip aboard The Beast in New York City in collaboration with Dramamine on May 12, revealing which of the twists he would have eliminated.

“Survivor takes a lot of swings. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. I don’t love all of them,” he mentioned. “I think, at its core, Survivor‘s fan base are their fans. I don’t know if [the twists] add to it, but it’s cool to see different celebrities love the show so much.”

He continued, “Some of them didn’t really play out, like the Billie Eilish Idol. Like, I love to hear that Billie Eilish is a fan of Survivorbut to not see it play out — or not yet anyway — I almost feel like maybe if it doesn’t play, then leave it on the cutting room floor, right?”

Billie Eilish in October 2025
Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

During the first two episodes of season 50, contestants Genevieve Mushaluk and Christian Hubicki every discovered hidden clues for Billie Eilish Boomerang Idols on their respective tribe’s seashores. The twist? The one that discovered the clue needed to secretly give the idol to somebody on an opposing tribe. If the one that obtained it was voted out with out utilizing the idol, it will “boomerang” again to the one that initially discovered it.

Ultimately, Mushaluk gifted hers to Ozzy Lusth, whereas Hubicki despatched his to Aubrey Bracco. However, each Mushaluk and Hubicki have been eradicated earlier than the idol might “boomerang” again to them — partly, as a result of different gamers realized they may achieve idols later in the sport.

Aubrey Bracco (L) and Ozzy Lusth (R)Credit: Robert Voets/CBS (2)

Aubrey Bracco (L) and Ozzy Lusth (R)
Credit: Robert Voets/CBS (2)

But Mariano did get pleasure from YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson‘s coin flip twist, by which Rick Devens accurately referred to as a toss to bump the prize cash to $2 million.

“I loved the MrBeast one — taking the risk, taking the chance, flipping the coin, doubling the prize money — that was pretty epic,” he mentioned.

Currently, Mariano is rooting for Jonathan Young to win season 50, who’s competing for the title of Sole Survivor alongside Bracco, Rizo Velovic, Tiffany “Tiff” Ervin and Joe Hunter. To put together for the season, Young worked with Mariano for four years to enhance his strategic gameplay.

“[He’d ask] everything. ‘What should I do in this situation?’ I was like, ‘Listen, bro, you can’t play like me. I can’t tell you what I would do, but I can tell you what I would do if I were you in different scenarios,’ ” Mariano recalled. “We kind of went over different things. I give him a lot of credit. He’s doing great.”

After most not too long ago showing on season 3 of The TraitorsMariano is now specializing in his YouTube present, Everything’s a Competitionwith former costa Dylan Efron. He’s additionally trying ahead to summer time journeys along with his household, spouse Amber Mariano (whom he met on season 8 of Survivor) and their four daughtersLucia, Carina, Isabetta and Adelina.

I’ve teamed up with Dramamine for the “Your Why. Your Way.” marketing campaign, which invitations folks to journey understanding that nausea will not “stand in the way of the experiences that matter most.” Fans can now enter the “Your Why. Your Way.” sweepstakes for the probability to win a $5,000 journey present card.

Mariano beforehand skilled sea illness whereas on an anniversary cruise along with his spouse, however is trying ahead to vacationing nausea-free this summer time. But his most cherished journey reminiscence stays when his daughters traveled to Fiji for household visits for Survivor season 40, Winners at War.

“[There was] the realization that Amber and I met on that island and they all got to come out for the family visit,” he mentioned. “That’s where it started, and then we’re all there together.”

Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8 pm on CBS.

Read the authentic article on People

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